Liberal on economic matters, but conservative on social matters (abortion, legalizing prayer)

Political Elite

An identifiable group of persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource-- such as money or political power.

Culture War

Class between the new class and the traditional middle class

News leaks

Been around since the beginning of politics

Gatekeeper

Media can influence what subjects become national political issues, and for how long

Scorekeeper

National media helps make political reputations, and helps decide who wins and who loses in Washington politics

Watchdog

The media has a instinctive and profitable desire to expose scandals and investigate personalities, to be tolerant of underdogs, and tough on frontrunners

Two-Party System

We have two parties that have a chance of winning. It is a rarity in the rest of the world. European parties are multiparty systems.

Strong political party

Parties in forgeign democracies; Parties are very important in their everday lives

Ideological Party

A party that values principled stands on issues above all else, including winning. It claims to have a comprehensive view of American society and government radically different from that of the established parties.